The addition of a third Sydney-Queenstown flight from Qantas means airlines are "growing the market", but does not mean "cannibalisation", Queenstown Airport Corporation chief executive Steve Sanderson says.
The Australian airline announced last night it would begin its third year-round direct flight from Sydney to Queenstown on February 21, 2010, operating on Sundays.
Existing Qantas year-round services from Sydney to Queenstown operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with additional flights for peak summer and winter periods.
Mr Sanderson said the additional flight supported the overall growth of tourists into Queenstown.
The flights would have passenger capacity of 165, he said.
"It's an all-year-round flight, which means Qantas believes that between summer and winter seasons is starting to fill in."
This year, Queenstown Airport welcomed Jetstar's domestic services in June and Pacific Blue's Sydney services in September, followed quickly by its direct domestic service from Auckland.
Mr Sanderson said it appeared there was enough business for all of the airlines.
"The loading that the airlines are enjoying is very strong [with an average load factor of 75.1% per flight].
I think with more seat capacity and more frequency [more people will come].
"The airlines are all marketing to different segments - some of them are business, some of them are leisure and some of them are cheaper flights.
I think they're growing the market and I don't think cannibalisation is there . . . it's good for growth."
Qantas New Zealand regional general manager Grant Lilly said the additional service would complement their existing services.
"New Zealand, and Queenstown in particular, remains a very important market for Qantas and we have seen demand increase to a level on our existing . . . services that we can now offer customers a third year-round service."
